Can you solve it? Are you smarter than a soap bubble?

"Can You Crack The Soap Bubble Puzzle? A Journey Through Geometrical Magic"

Four towns sit at the corners of a square, and we need to find the most efficient way to connect them with roads. Sounds simple enough, but trust us, it's not. Each town is trying to outdo the others, coming up with the longest possible road networks that just happen to connect all four corners. The problem is so cleverly designed that even mathematicians have struggled to crack it.

The O-loop and U-route are two of the most popular solutions, but neither is the optimal answer. They're like over-the-top decorations on a cake - they get the job done, but not necessarily in the best way.

So, what's the magic solution? The puzzle creators want us to find out without resorting to complex maths. Instead, we can try making a plastic model of the puzzle and placing it in a bowl of soapy water. Nature has already given us the answer - the bubbles will form around the dowels displaying the optimal road network.

The solution is surprisingly simple and elegant. It's like a geometrical snowflake, appearing in nature all around us. Think you can spot it? The puzzle creators promise to reveal the answer at 5 pm UK with a video of the soap bubble solution.

For now, let's just say that this puzzle has got us hooked. We love the idea of using science and nature to solve a seemingly impossible problem. MathsWorld London, a new maths discovery centre in Southwark, London, is already proving to be an addictive destination. Their giant soap bubble machine is a highlight - who wouldn't want to stand in it and pull a bubble over their head?

Other exhibits at the centre include an elliptical pool table, a Morse code machine, and hands-on puzzles galore. MathsCity Leeds, the sister project to MathsWorld London, has also got its own giant bubble machine that's been delighting visitors since 2021.

If you're in London or Leeds, be sure to check out these maths wonderlands. Who knows? You might just crack the soap bubble puzzle and become a master of geometrical magic.

Ugh, sounds like maths is getting more complicated than my online browsing history lol . I mean, who needs complex maths when you can just use soapy water to figure it out? It's not exactly reassuring that mathematicians have struggled with this one - what if the answer is just too weird for us to understand? And don't even get me started on those "addictive destinations" that are supposed to be fun... what's wrong with a simple Netflix binge-watching session instead of standing in front of a giant soap bubble machine?

I'm all for trying new things and exploring creativity through science. The idea of using soapy water to find the optimal road network is actually kinda genius! It's like, who needs maths when nature can do it for us? And a giant soap bubble machine in a maths discovery centre? That sounds like an absolute blast! I'd love to visit MathsWorld London and give it a try. Maybe they'll even have a mini version of the puzzle here where we can test our skills .

I'm intrigued by this soap bubble puzzle thingy ... sounds like a fun way to explore geometry without having to crunch loads of math. I mean, who needs complex maths when nature's already given us the answer? But seriously, I wonder how they came up with this idea and what other cool exhibits MathsWorld London has in store for us . The giant soap bubble machine at their centre is literally a dream come true - it's like stepping into a childhood playground all over again . And the fact that there's another sister project, MathsCity Leeds, with its own bubble machine? That just takes the cake ... I'm definitely gonna check these out if I ever find myself in London or Leeds .

I'm intrigued by this soap bubble puzzle - it's like trying to solve a real-life Rubik's cube! I think the idea of using nature as a solution is genius, and who wouldn't want to stand in front of a giant bubble machine? The fact that there are two popular solutions but neither is optimal makes me wonder if the puzzle creators might have hidden clues somewhere. Maybe it's not just about finding the correct answer, but also understanding the process behind the bubbles.

omg I'm so down for this math puzzle thingy , like how cool is using science and nature to solve it? I love that they're encouraging us to try making a plastic model and playing with soap bubbles - it's just so... fun . And the fact that it's been puzzling even mathematicians is like, whoa! I'm definitely going to check out MathsWorld London or Leeds when I have some free time, their giant bubble machine sounds like so much fun . Maybe I'll even get inspired to try solving it myself... but for now, I'm just excited to watch the video at 5 pm and see if I can spot the magic solution .

I'm not sure if I'd get too excited about this...it's like they're trying to make us think it's way more complicated than it actually is . "Oh, we can't solve it with maths, let's just stick our face in a bowl of soapy water!" It sounds like a fun party trick, but I'm still gonna have to wait till 5 pm to see the "magic" solution. If the bubbles are really forming an optimal road network, that'd be pretty wild ...but I'm not holding my breath

I'm loving this idea of using science and nature to solve problems. The fact that the answer was right there in front of us all along, in the shape of soap bubbles , is genius! And can you imagine walking into MathsWorld London and being surrounded by giant bubble machines? It's like stepping into a dream world where maths meets magic . I need to get myself to one of these centres ASAP and see what other clever puzzles they have in store. Maybe it'll even inspire me to try my hand at creating some geometrical masterpieces

I mean, come on... a soap bubble puzzle? It's like they took a bunch of random stuff, tossed it in a bowl, and called it a "mathematical challenge". Don't get me wrong, the idea of using science to solve a problem is cool and all, but this feels like more of a gimmick than actual math. I'm not convinced that just because you're in water and soap bubbles, you've somehow cracked the code on how to optimize road networks. Give me a break .

OMG, I'm obsessed with this soap bubble puzzle ! I mean, who would've thought that nature has the answer all along ? Like, isn't it awesome how science can help us solve complex problems in such a creative way? And those maths discovery centres sound like so much fun! I'd love to visit MathsWorld London and MathsCity Leeds ASAP . That giant soap bubble machine is giving me major nostalgia vibes . Can't wait to see the solution at 5 pm UK, maybe it'll inspire me to create some geometrical magic of my own !

I'm so down for this math thingy . I mean, who wouldn't want to figure out how to make roads between towns in a super efficient way? The idea of using soap bubbles as a solution is actually pretty genius . It's like Mother Nature gave us the answer all along - just look at how they form around the dowels! I'm totally stoked that MathsWorld London and MathsCity Leeds are making math so cool again . And can you imagine walking into a place with giant bubble machines? That sounds like so much fun .

I gotta say, this soap bubble thing is kinda cool... but, like, how does it actually work? I mean, isn't that just using buoyancy or something? And what's with all these puzzles and games, can't they just give us a straightforward answer already? Still, I suppose it's nice to see people getting excited about maths in a fun way. That giant bubble machine at MathsWorld London sounds like so much fun! But, I'm still not convinced that the soap bubble solution is the "optimal" answer... there might be more to it than meets the eye

I'm loving this soap bubble puzzle thingy ! The idea of using nature's own solution to figure it out is genius . I mean, who needs math when you have bubbles, right? It's like the ultimate puzzle challenge - can we crack it without getting our hands dirty (or wet)? I'm definitely intrigued by MathsWorld London and MathsCity Leeds - I need to check them out ASAP! Those giant soap bubble machines sound like a blast! And, omg, an elliptical pool table? That's next level cool . I'll be keeping an eye on the video reveal at 5 pm UK - fingers crossed I can spot that geometrical snowflake